Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
  • B05B13/005—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/24—Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/28—Floor-scrubbing machines, motor-driven
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/29—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
  • A47L11/30—Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid by suction
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/38—Machines, specially adapted for cleaning walls, ceilings, roofs, or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/16—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances
  • A61L2/22—Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/26—Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/0093—At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels or casters for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/24—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
  • B05B7/2489—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device
  • B05B7/2491—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device an atomising fluid, e.g. a gas, being supplied to the discharge device characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/04—Cleaning involving contact with liquid
  • B08B3/08—Cleaning involving contact with liquid the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/15—Biocide distribution means, e.g. nozzles, pumps, manifolds, fans, baffles, sprayers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/16—Mobile applications, e.g. portable devices, trailers, devices mounted on vehicles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/17—Combination with washing or cleaning means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
  • B05B7/08—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point
  • B05B7/0876—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point to form parallel jets constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to dispensing fluid and, more particularly, to dispensing fluid on a surface to treat the surface.
• a treatment fluid dispensing system for coupling to a surface maintenance machine includes a treatment fluid reservoir adapted to store a treatment fluid and to be carried by the surface maintenance machine.
• the system further includes a pressurizing system adapted to pressurize at least one of the treatment fluid and an air pressure to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
• the system further includes one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the treatment fluid reservoir and the pressurizing system such that the one or more nozzles receive the treatment fluid and dispense the treatment fluid to a surface.
• the one or more nozzles are adapted to be located and oriented to dispense the treatment fluid in at least one of the directions of rightward, leftward, and rearward.
• the one or more nozzles adapted to be located and oriented to dispense the treatment fluid rearward relative to the surface maintenance machine as defined relative to the forward direction of travel, including rearward of and beyond the longitudinal extent of the maintenance operation zone, whereby the treatment fluid treats the second surface.
• a surface maintenance machine includes a body having an extent and wheels for supporting the body over a first surface for movement in a forward direction of travel.
• the surface maintenance machine also includes surface maintenance equipment supported by the body and extending towards the first surface that provides a surface maintenance operation on a portion of the first surface defined as the maintenance operation zone.
• the surface equipment including a maintenance head assembly comprising one or more motor-driven surface maintenance tools for performing the surface maintenance operation within the maintenance operation zone.
• the surface maintenance machine further includes a treatment fluid dispensing system coupled to the surface maintenance machine which includes a treatment fluid reservoir adapted to store a treatment fluid.
• the treatment fluid dispensing system further includes a pressurizing system adapted to pressurize at least one of the treatment fluid and an air pressure to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
• the treatment fluid dispensing system further including one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the treatment fluid reservoir and the pressurizing system such that the one or more nozzles receive the treatment fluid and dispense the treatment fluid to a second surface.
• the one or more nozzles are adapted to be located and oriented to dispense the treatment fluid in at least one of the directions of rightward, leftward, and rearward.
• the one or more nozzles adapted to be located and oriented to dispense the treatment fluid rearward relative to the surface maintenance machine as defined relative to the forward direction of travel, including rearward of and beyond the longitudinal extent of the maintenance operation zone, whereby the treatment fluid treats the second surface.
• a method for dispensing fluid includes performing a surface maintenance operation on a portion of a first surface defined as a maintenance operation zone using the surface maintenance equipment of a surface maintenance machine.
• the surface maintenance machine including a body and wheels for supporting the body over the first surface for movement in a forward direction of travel.
• the surface maintenance equipment including a maintenance head assembly comprising one or more motor-driven surface maintenance tools extending toward the first surface for performing the surface maintenance operation within the maintenance operation zone.
• the method also includes dispensing a treatment fluid on a second surface using a treatment fluid dispensing system while performing the surface maintenance operation.
• the treatment fluid dispensing system including a treatment fluid reservoir adapted to store the treatment fluid and a pressurizing system adapted to pressurize at least one of the treatment fluid and an air pressure to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
• the treatment fluid dispensing system further including one or more nozzles in fluid communication with the treatment fluid reservoir and the pressurizing system such that the one or more nozzles receive the treatment fluid and dispense the treatment fluid.
• the one or more nozzles being located an oriented to dispense the treatment fluid on the second surface, the second surface being located outside the maintenance operation zone, whereby the treatment fluid treats the second surface.
• the method for dispensing fluid further including moving the surface maintenance machine over the first surface in the forward direction of travel.
• FIG. 1 A is a perspective view of a mobile surface maintenance machine according to an example of the present disclosure.
• FIG. IB is a sectional perspective view of the mobile surface maintenance machine of FIG. 1 A taken along a longitudinal plane through the mobile surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 1C is a top-down view of the surface maintenance machine of FIG. 1A and FIG. IB including a maintenance operation zone.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example system including a fluid dispensing system connected to a surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of a fluid dispensing system with an electrostatic module.
• FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are front elevation views of an example system including a fluid dispensing system connected to a surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 5 A is a top-down view of an example system including two groups of nozzles on a left and right side of a surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 5B is a top-down view of an example system including three groups of nozzles systems on a left, right, and back side of a surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 5C is a top-down view of an example system including one group of nozzles on a single side of a surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. 1 A to FIG. IB are perspective views of an example surface maintenance machine 100 according to an aspect of the invention.
• FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the surface maintenance machine.
• FIG. IB is a perspective sectional view taken through the longitudinal plane IB in FIG. 1 A.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 is a ride-on machine. During use, an operator may ride the surface maintenance machine 100 in a seated position and sit in the seat in the operator cab 101. Alternatively, the machine can be a walk-behind or a tow-behind machine.
• the surface maintenance machine can perform maintenance tasks such as sweeping, scrubbing, polishing (burnishing) a surface.
• the surface can be a floor surface, pavement, road surface and the like.
• a portion of the surface can be defined as a maintenance operation zone 126.
• the maintenance operation zone 126 includes an area on which and only within which surface maintenance equipment 136 of a surface maintenance machine is performing a surface maintenance operation at a point in time or at a particular location of the surface maintenance machine.
• the surface maintenance machine performs a surface maintenance operation on an area which includes the maintenance operation zone 126 at a point in time or at a particular location of the machine.
• the maintenance operation zone can include a lateral extent 128 and a longitudinal extent 130.
• the maintenance operation zone typically includes a surface area on which a maintenance head assembly performs a surface maintenance operation as part of the surface maintenance equipment 136. Additional surface maintenance equipment 136 may be performing the surface maintenance operation within the surface maintenance zone.
• the maintenance operation zone in FIG. 1C is an area in which a cleaning fluid is dispensed thereon, a maintenance head assembly 116 cleans the area using a scrubber or other surface maintenance tool, and a vacuum/vacuum squeegee removes any fluid from the maintenance operation zone 126.
• the surface maintenance equipment 136 in such a design also includes a vacuum / vacuum squeegee assembly and any dispensing equipment (e.g., cleaning fluid nozzles typically located forward of the maintenance head assembly) that dispenses the cleaning fluid.
• the lateral extent 128 of the maintenance operation zone 126 extends further than the lateral extent of the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine 100, which is common when the maintenance equipment includes a vacuum squeegee that extends slightly wider than the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine.
• the maintenance operation zone 126 may be narrower than the body 132 such that the lateral extent of the maintenance operation zone 126 is less than the lateral extent of the body 132. In either example, a surface maintenance operation is only performed within the lateral extent of the maintenance operation zone 126 and not outside of such zone.
• the longitudinal extent 130 of the maintenance operation zone 126 may not extend along the entire length of the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine 100.
• the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine extends rearward of the maintenance operation zone 126.
• vacuum squeegee is located in the rear portion of the maintenance operation zone 126, such that, a point in time or at a location of the surface maintenance machine, the surface rearward of the vacuum squeegee is not receiving a surface maintenance operation.
• the longitudinal extent of the maintenance operation zone 126 may be very similar to that shown in FIG. 1C.
• the floor maintenance operation does not extend rearward of the vacuum, such that part of the body of the floor maintenance machine may extend rearward of the maintenance operation zone 126.
• a treatment fluid area 134 is also included.
• the treatment fluid area 134 extends beyond (e.g., rightward, leftward, and/or rearward) the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine 100 and beyond (e.g., rightward, leftward, and/or rearward) of the maintenance operation zone 126.
• the treatment fluid area 134 is typically outside of the maintenance operation zone 126, because any treatment fluid dispensed into the maintenance operation zone 126 will likely be part of the maintenance operation (e.g., acted on by one or more of the surface maintenance equipment 136 devices) and not part of a treatment fluid operation like that would occur in the treatment fluid area 134.
• the forwardmost area of the treatment fluid area 134 is rearward of the maintenance operation zone 126 as defined by the forward direction of travel 208. In some examples, the forwardmost area of the maintenance operation zone 126 is rearward of the forwardmost area covered by the body 132 of the surface maintenance machine 100.
• Examples of the surface maintenance machine 100 include components that are supported on a mobile body 102.
• the mobile body 102 comprises a frame supported on wheels 103 for travel over a surface, on which a surface maintenance operation is to be performed.
• the mobile body 102 may include operator controls and a steering control such as a steering wheel 108 such that an operator can turn the steering wheel 108 and control the speed of the surface maintenance machine 100 without having to remove the operator’s hands from the steering wheel 108 using means well-known in the art.
• controls for steering, propelling, and controlling various operations of the surface maintenance machine 100 can be provided on an operator console 110.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may be powered by batteries 114.
• the batteries 114 can be proximate the rear of the surface maintenance machine 100, or it may instead be located elsewhere, such as within the interior of the surface maintenance machine 100, supported within a frame, and/or proximate the front of the surface maintenance machine 100.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 can be powered by an external electrical source (e.g., a power generator) via an electrical outlet 276 or a fuel cell.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 includes one or electric motors 112 that are supported on the mobile body 102 and may be located within the interior of the surface maintenance machine 100. One or more electric motors 112 receive power from batteries 114.
• Electric motors 112 supply torque to the surface maintenance machine, including the torque to rotate the wheels 103 in order to propel the surface maintenance machine 100 in a selected direction such as the forward direction of travel.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 includes one or more engines that may generate electrical power for use by the surface maintenance machine and/or that directly drive portions of the surface maintenance machine.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 includes a maintenance head assembly 116 (sometimes the assembly is referred to as a maintenance head).
• the maintenance head assembly 116 houses one or more motor-driven surface maintenance tools 118 such as scrub brushes, sweeping brushes, and polishing, stripping or burnishing pads, and tools for extracting (e.g., dry or wet vacuum tools).
• the maintenance head assembly 116 is a cleaning head comprising one or more cleaning tools (e.g., sweeping or scrubbing brushes) as motor-driven surface maintenance tools 118.
• the maintenance head assembly 116 is a treatment head comprising one or more cleaning tools (e.g., polishing, stripping or buffing pads).
• the maintenance operation can be a dry operation or a wet operation.
• fluid such as a treatment fluid (e.g., a cleaning fluid) from a fluid reservoir 120, is supplied to or proximate to the maintenance head assembly 116 where it may be sprayed onto the underlying floor surface.
• a treatment fluid e.g., a cleaning fluid
• Such maintenance tools include sweeping, scrubbing brushes, wet scrubbing pads, polishing/bumishing and/or buffing pads.
• one or more side brushes for performing sweeping, dry or wet vacuuming, extracting, scrubbing or other operations can be provided.
• the maintenance head assembly 116 can extend toward a surface on which a maintenance operation is to be performed.
• the maintenance head assembly 116 can be attached to the base of the surface maintenance machine 100 such that the head can be lowered to an operating position and raised to a traveling position.
• the maintenance head assembly 116 can be connected to the surface maintenance machine 100 using any known mechanism, such as a suspension and lift mechanism.
• the torque for the maintenance head may be provided by the one or more electric motors 112. In an aspect of the invention, different ones of the one or more electric motors provide the torque to propel the machine and provide the torque to actuate components of the maintenance head assembly 116, such as the one or more motor-driven surface maintenance tools.
• the interior of the surface maintenance machine 100 can include a vacuum system for removal of substances, such as debris or liquid, from the surface.
• the vacuum system can include a vacuum inlet 124a connected to a vacuum source which allows debris or fluid to be sucked up from the vacuum inlet 124a by the vacuum source.
• the vacuum inlet 124a is part of a vacuum squeegee 124b which can remove liquid from the surface or from a portion of the surface such as along the lateral extent 128 of the maintenance operation zone 126.
• the vacuum squeegee 124b can be mounted such that it extends from a lower reward portion of the surface maintenance machine 100.
• the vacuum inlet 124a is a sweeper vacuum, which can remove solid debris from the surface or from a portion of the surface such as along the lateral extent of the maintenance operation zone.
• the interior of the surface maintenance machine 100 can include a fluid reservoir 120 and a fluid recovery tank 122.
• the fluid reservoir 120 can include a fluid source such as a treatment fluid that can be applied to the surface during treating operations.
• the treatment fluid can be cleaning fluid, a sanitizing fluid, or any fluid, such as water.
• the reservoir contains a diluent, such as water, which can be added to a concentrated solution of the treatment fluid.
• the fluid recovery tank 122 holds recovered fluid that has been applied to the surface and soiled.
• the interior of the surface maintenance machine 100 can include passageways for passage of debris and dirty liquid.
• the vacuum system can be fluidly coupled to the fluid recovery tank 122 for drawing dirt, debris or soiled liquid from the surface.
• Fluid for example, clean liquid, which may be mixed with a detergent, can be dispensed from the fluid reservoir 120 to the floor beneath surface maintenance machine 100, in proximity to the scrubbing brushes, and soiled scrubbing fluid is drawn by the squeegee centrally, after which it is suctioned via a recovery hose into the fluid recovery tank 122.
• the vacuum squeegee can remove soiled fluid indirectly from the floor.
• One such example is a vacuum squeegee mounted to the maintenance head assembly such that it removes soiled fluid, which has been in contact with the floor, directly from the scrubbing brushes.
• more than one vacuum squeegee is used, such as a vacuum squeegee for removing fluid directly from the brushes along with a vacuum squeegee extending from a lower reward portion of the surface maintenance machine.
• Surface maintenance machine 100 can also include a feedback control system to operate these and other elements of surface maintenance machine 100, according to apparatus and methods which are known to those skilled in the art.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may be combination sweeper and scrubber machines.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may either be an air sweeper- scrubber or a mechanical sweeper-scrubber.
• Such a surface maintenance machine 100 can also include sweeping brushes (e.g., rotary broom) extending toward a surface (e.g., from the underside of the surface maintenance machine 100), with the sweeping brushes designed to direct dirt and debris into a hopper.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 can also include a vacuum system for suctioning dirt and debris from the surface 120.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may be a sweeper.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may include the elements as described above for a sweeper and scrubber surface maintenance machine 100, but would not include the scrubbing elements such as scrubbers, squeegees and fluid storage tanks (for detergent, recovered fluid and clean liquid).
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may be a sweeper without scrubber functionality, such as an air sweeper-scrubber or a mechanical sweeper.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 may include the elements as described above for a sweeper and scrubber surface maintenance machine 100, but would not include the scrubbing elements such as scrubbers, squeegees and fluid storage tanks (for detergent, recovered fluid and clean liquid).
• the maintenance head of such a sweeper may comprise sweeping brushes (e.g., rotary broom) extending toward a surface (e.g., from the underside of the surface maintenance machine 100), with the sweeping brushes designed to direct substances, such as dirt and debris into a hopper.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 can also include a vacuum system for suctioning substances, including dirt and debris from the surface 120.
• the surface maintenance machine 100 can include a primary vacuum source and a secondary vacuum source.
• the primary vacuum source can be used to provide a vacuum force for a vacuum squeegee while the secondary vacuum source can be used to provide a vacuum force for a sweeper vacuum.
• the primary vacuum source and/or the secondary vacuum source can have an exhaust to exhaust air made by the primary and/or secondary vacuum source. The exhaust air can be used to provide air pressure.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an example fluid dispensing system 200 coupled to a surface maintenance machine (e.g., the surface maintenance machine 100 of FIG 1A).
• the fluid dispensing system 200 is powered by the surface maintenance machine’s batteries 1 and is operated by a power switch 2 which provides current to the fluid dispensing system when turned on.
• a battery separate from the machine battery 1, provides power to the fluid dispensing system 200.
• power switch 2 is connected to a controller 3 which can control certain aspects of the fluid dispensing system 200 as is further described herein.
• the fluid dispensing system of FIG. 2 dispenses a fluid.
• the fluid is a treatment fluid.
• the treatment fluid is a sanitizing solution or concentrate solution.
• the treatment fluid will treat the surface on which it is dispensed in a manner that may sanitize or disinfect the surface. It will be appreciated that other fluids and solutions can be used and are contemplated.
• the treatment fluid is the same solution used by the surface maintenance machine to clean a floor surface.
• the treatment fluid used by the fluid dispensing system is different from the treatment fluid used by the surface maintenance machine.
• the fluid dispensing system of FIG. 2 can include ultra-low volume (ULV) techniques for dispensing the fluid in a fog, mist, or spray.
• UUV ultra-low volume
• an air delivery system 21 includes an air blower 5, primary hose 10, secondary hoses 11, and air pressure regulators 8 which are in fluid communication with nozzles 9.
• the air blower 5 generates pressurized air to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure which is then fed through the primary hose 10, through the secondary hoses 11, and through the air pressure regulators 8 until it reaches the nozzles 9.
• the air blower 5 generates air pressure by increasing the amount of air within the air delivery system.
• the air blower 5 pressurizes the air in the primary hose 10 and hoses 11.
• individual air blowers can be used to pressurize the air for individual nozzles while in other examples, a single air blower is used to pressurize the air for all the nozzles.
• the pressurized air is used by the nozzles 9 to generate a fog, mist, or spray of the treatment fluid by working in conjunction with a fluid delivery system 22 of FIG. 2 which is further described herein.
• the air delivery system 21 can include an electric motor to generate the pressure for the treatment fluid such as an electric air blower.
• pressurized air is provided by the exhaust from the primary vacuum of the surface maintenance machine or pressurized air is provided by the exhaust from the secondary vacuum of the surface maintenance machine.
• pressurized air is provided by an electric air compressor.
• the pressurized air feeds into individual air pressure regulators 8 through hoses 11.
• the air pressure regulators 8 can adjust the pressure of air delivered to each nozzle 9 which can be different for each individual nozzle 9. Being able to individually regulate the pressure of each nozzle 9 provides control over how far the fog, mist, or spray will reach for each nozzle 9. By combining and controlling the fog generated by each nozzle 9, an overall fog can be created which can consistently cover the desired area or surface.
• only one air pressure regulator is used to control the pressure of air delivered to the nozzles such that the air pressure is the same for each nozzle. In other examples, no air pressure regulators are used, which can reduce the complexity of the system.
• a fluid delivery system 22 includes a fluid pump 6, a fluid reservoir 4, and a fluid manifold 7 which is in fluid communication with nozzles 9 via hoses 15.
• fluid pump 6 can be an electric motor.
• the fluid pump 6 pumps a fluid (e.g., a treatment fluid) from the fluid reservoir 4, which contains the fluid, through a hose 13 which can be a fluid hose.
• fluid reservoir 4 can be a fluid reservoir of a surface maintenance machine (e.g., 120 in FIG. IB.
• the fluid reservoir 4 can be integrated as part of the fluid dispensing system 200.
• the fluid reservoir 4 includes both a concentrated fluid (e.g., a concentrated treatment fluid) and a diluent (e.g., water) that mixes with the concentrated fluid before the combined fluids are dispensed.
• the fluid reservoir 4 may store the concentrated fluid and the diluent may be stored in separate containers or in separate portions of a single container.
• the diluent may be used selectively with a concentrated fluid used in the fluid delivery system and selectively with a concentrated fluid (e.g., a cleaning fluid) used by the surface maintenance head assembly to clean the underlying floor on which the surface maintenance machine is traveling.
• the fluid reservoir 4 could separately store a concentrated treatment fluid, a concentrated cleaning fluid, and a diluent (e.g., a larger supply than either of the concentrated fluids) that are selectively mixed and dispensed as appropriate.
• the fluid pump 6 pushes the fluid through a hose 14 connected to the fluid manifold 7.
• Fluid manifold 7 may distribute the fluid evenly to each of the nozzles 9; although in some designs the nozzles may be different such that the fluid is distributed unevenly.
• the air delivery system 21 uses air pressure to force the fluid out of the nozzles in a fog, mist, or spray. Other methods can be used to deliver fluid to the nozzles 9.
• the pressure differential created by the pressurized air of the air delivery system 21 could directly draw the fluid from the fluid reservoir 4 into the nozzle.
• the fluid is delivered to the nozzles 9 by gravity.
• the fluid is delivered to the nozzles 9 by a siphoning force.
• a fluid pump pressurizes the fluid to a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, such that the fluid delivery system 22 is able to dispense the fluid in a fog, mist, or spray.
• the fluid pump can be fluid pump 6, or it can be a separate fluid pump used for pressurizing the fluid.
• the fluid delivery system 22 pressurizes the fluid and the air delivery system 21 pressurizes air. In such examples, by pressurizing both the air and the fluid, the fluid being dispensed by the nozzles in a fog, mist, or spray can cover a surface consistently.
• the air delivery system 21 can be considered a pressurizing system as the air delivery system 21 pressurizes air to allow the fluid to be dispensed in a fog, mist, or spray.
• the fluid delivery system 22 can be considered a pressurizing system as the fluid pump pressurizes the fluid to allow the treatment fluid to be dispensed in a fog, mist, or spray.
• the air delivery system combined with the fluid delivery system can be considered a pressurizing system as they can pressurize air and the fluid to allow the fluid to be dispensed in a fog, mist, spray.
• a controller 3 is used to regulate the electric motors of the air delivery system 21 and fluid delivery system 22.
• controller 3 can regulate the air pressure generated by the air delivery system 21 and/or the flow rate of the fluid of the fluid delivery system 22.
• controller 3 can regulate the fluid pressure generated by the fluid pump.
• the controller can also control a sequence of events regarding the air delivery system 21 and the fluid delivery system 22. In one example, the controller 3 builds enough air pressure in the air delivery system 21 before starting to provide fluid to the nozzles using the fluid delivery system 22.
• the fluid dispensing system 200 described herein relative to FIG. 2 may serve as a system separate from a surface maintenance machine (e.g., the surface maintenance machine 100 of FIG 1A) and is configured to be connected to such a surface maintenance machine, for instance, as a retrofit operation.
• a surface maintenance machine e.g., the surface maintenance machine 100 of FIG 1A
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an alternate embodiment of a fluid dispensing system including an electrostatic module 16.
• the electrostatic module 16 is connected to nozzles 9. Nozzles 9 are fluidly connected to a reservoir 4 through hoses 15, fluid manifold 7, hose 14, fluid pump 6, and finally hose 13.
• the electrostatic module 16 can apply an electrical charge to the fluid passing through it before the fluid is dispensed out of nozzles 9, thereby dispensing charged droplets of fluid.
• the charged droplets are attracted to surfaces, which can result in treatment fluids depositing faster on surfaces compared to non- charged droplets which tend to remain airborne for a longer duration before depositing on surfaces.
• the charged droplets can wrap around the sides of a surface, thereby covering the backside of an object.
• the electrostatic module 16 can be connected to the fluid delivery system of FIG. 2.
• the fluid dispensing system described herein relative to FIG. 3 may serve as a system separate from a surface maintenance machine (e.g., the surface maintenance machine 100 of FIG 1A) and is configured to be connected to such a surface maintenance machine, for instance, as a retrofit operation.
• FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are front elevation views of an example system including a fluid dispensing system 18 connected to a surface maintenance machine.
• the fluid dispensing system 18 includes multiple nozzles 9 which dispense fluids such as a treatment fluid.
• the nozzles 9 provide coverage of a surface 20, which is a vertical surface, when the surface maintenance machine 17 is relatively close to the vertical surface.
• the nozzles can dispense fluid on a portion of a surface outside of a maintenance operation zone (e.g., 126 in FIG. 1C).
• the portion of the surface can be rightward or leftward relative to the surface maintenance machine as defined relative the forward direction of travel, including beyond the lateral extent of the maintenance operation zone.
• the nozzles may dispense fluid in a rearward direction, as defined relative to the forward direction of travel of the surface maintenance machine, such that fluid is dispensed, in some examples, rearward of the maintenance operation zone (126 of FIG. 1C) or, in some examples, rearward of the extent of the body (132 of FIG. 1C) of the surface maintenance machine.
• the portion of the surface can be any combination of rightward, leftward, and/or rearward relative to the surface maintenance machine as defined relative to the forward direction of travel. In FIG.
• the surface maintenance machine 17 is further away when compared to FIG. 4A, however, it still provides coverage of the surface 20.
• the coverage of the surface 20 can be controlled by the nozzles 9.
• the nozzles 9 are directed at different angles relative to the horizontal plane and placed at different points on the fluid dispensing system 18.
• fog, mist, or spray can come out of the nozzles 9 at an angle (e.g., spray angle) separate from the angle of the nozzle.
• the angle and placement of the nozzles 9 along with the spray angle can allow the nozzles to fog, mist, or spray fluid toward the surface 20 in a controlled way to better cover the surface 20.
• the nozzles can be controlled to provide a consistent coverage of the surface from a top of the surface 20 to a bottom of the surface 20 with treatment fluid. In such configurations, the surface 20 would not have a portion which is not covered by some treatment fluid.
• the fog, mist, or spray of fluid from the nozzles can be in a conical spray pattern or a flat spray pattern.
• the nozzles 9 configuration can be fixed, and in other embodiments, the angle and direction of the nozzles as well as the spray angle can be configurable.
• the portion of the surface 20 that is covered with the fluid can measure between 0.5 meters to 1.0 meters wide and between 0.0 meters (e.g., the floor surface) and 2.5 meters high.
• the portion that is covered can be considered the surface area that is accessible to a human. In which case, the surfaces that a human would touch are covered in treatment fluid and in some examples, are sanitized.
• FIG. 5 A to FIG. 5C show a top-down view of a surface maintenance machine 17 and placement of one or more nozzles in groups on the side of the surface maintenance machine 17.
• the groups of nozzles 18 can include one or more nozzles in various configurations.
• the surface maintenance machine 17 is coupled to two groups of nozzles 18.
• One of the groups of nozzles is located on a first side of the surface maintenance machine 17 while the other group of nozzles is located on a second side, opposite the first side.
• This configuration can be used for covering surfaces in an environment where the corridor is relatively narrow.
• the configuration of FIG. 5A is used for areas which extend up to two times the width of the surface maintenance machine 17.
• FIG. 5A is used for areas which extend up to two times the width of the surface maintenance machine 17.
• the surface maintenance machine 17 further includes a third group of nozzles 18 located on a back side of the surface maintenance machine 17.
• the third group of nozzles 18 is coupled on the back of the surface maintenance machine and in some examples, can be pointed downward to a floor surface. In this configuration, the third group of nozzles can cover the floor surface with a treatment fluid.
• FIG. 5C only one group of nozzles 18 is coupled to the surface maintenance machine 17. In this configuration, the machine can clean an environment that is relatively large and open. In some examples, the configuration of FIG. 5C is used for areas which extend greater than two times the width of the surface maintenance machine 17.
• the groups of nozzles 18 are all located behind a seat for the driver of the surface maintenance machine 17.

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• 2021
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